White the Cursed

09 - Last night

AN : Early update 'cause I won't be able to post tomorrow.

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The night was chilly and a delicious smell of roasted chicken was hanging in the air. Jack let the twins guide him, they were holding his arms as if afraid he could vanish all of a sudden. Even though they were squeezing a bit too hard, he couldn't bring himself to think it was something wrong. Both were talking excitedly and giggling, saying the others were going to be glad to see him, and that they wanted to introduce him to the artists he had not met yet.

They evoked a lot of names, including some Jack had not heard on stage. Mala, Gobber and Fishlegs. Jack held back from laughing as he heard these names. With Snotlout, Hiccup, the twins and Dagur, they had funny names. The boy ended up wondering if it really was their names, or nicknames.

When the camp was in view, Jack noticed a tall bonfire in the middle, the other artists gathered around it with a couple other persons. There was music, and a few smaller fires where full chicken were roasting, and a few silhouettes dancing. Jack smiled as he spotted Stormfly and Toothless next to a campfire, the blue and yellow tall dragon eyeing the food while Toothless was laughing at Meatlug, sprawled on a fire, rolling happily in the flames as she was extinguishing it, her tongue hanging out of her big mouth.

The twins sped up and Jack thought he was going to fall.

''Hey guys !'' Tuffnut shouted, ''look who we've found !''

The group closer to them, three persons sitting on logs around a barril, turned to look at them. Jack recognised Snotlout and Valka, along with the knife thrower Eret.

''Jack !'' The stocky dark-haired guy exclaimed as he stood.

He dropped his pint and pushed Eret to skirted the log. Not minding at all the twins, he shoved them out of his way before wrapping his thick arms around the thin boy. He hugged so hard Jack huffed before being lifted from the ground.

''Easy Snotlout,'' Valka chuckled.

The stocky guy put back down their guest. Jack chuckled despite being breathless, then smiled as he met Valka's kind eyes.

''It's really good to see you tonight, Jack. I admit that, with what happened yesterday, we were not sure you would show up.''

''You had one more show tonight,'' he replied as casual as he could and shrugged. ''I couldn't miss it.''

Valka smiled, amused, then Eret joined them, a curious look on the boy.

''So, you're the Jack ?''

The boy had to lift his head to meet the hazel eyes of this tall young man. Seriously, he was even taller than Valka, which was already a good half-head taller than Jack. Eret was about to start a conversation but Astrid erupted from thin air, grabbing his arm and leaning towards Jack as if she wanted the taller guy to stay quiet. Her ocean blue eyes were filled with curiosity and some sort of fascination.

''Oh, so this is the famous Jack ? We've been hearing about you all day long.''

''R-Really ?'' The boy hesitated.

''Hiccup says dragons like him.'' Eret explained to the blonde.

Astrid scoffed. ''Yeah, the dragons aren't the only ones liking him, if you know what I mean.''

Jack felt his face heat up. He wondered what she was meaning by that, and his heart skipped a beat as he imagined she was talking about the tamer. He didn't dare hoping he had made such a good impression, especially seeing the circumstances. The twins high-fived before Ruffnut left them, turning just to explain where she was going.